The Omega Becomes The Zerg Queen - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Being a Guest

Breakfast today was, as usual, prepared with Duo Duo Fruits.

Since Lucius sent representatives to negotiate with the Federation last time, it was unclear whether the Federation simply wanted to avoid a conflict with the Zerg or if the price offered was simply too high to refuse. In any case, the Federation had responded quickly, agreeing to the Zerg’s demands and opening up a supply line for the time being.

The price wasn’t outrageously high, but they did demand many rare resources unique to the Zerg. Of course, in the eyes of the Zerg—who loved their King dearly—these resources and the money required were trivial. As long as it satisfied the King’s needs, they were willing to do anything. Even if the Federation used this as an opportunity to demand an exorbitant price, the Zerg would turn a blind eye and agree.

They weren’t even worried that the Federation’s development might threaten the Zerg’s status in the galaxy. The Federation? Just a small thing. What does it matter? Even if they gave them resources now, as long as the King existed, the Zerg would surely regain their former glory. These resources were essentially just “poverty relief.”

However, in addition to these external conditions, the Federation Council had put forward a special request. They hoped to invite the Queen to visit the Federation’s home planet to mark the beginning of friendly relations between the Zerg and the Federation.

During the long, dark three hundred years the Zerg were without a Queen, the Federation had risen as a powerful force. With their strength in invention and mecha combat, they had become a rising star capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Zerg. Over the years, while the Federation had expanded its territory aggressively, it had cleverly maintained its distance from the Zerg, never once trespassing into Zerg space. They minded their own business, creating a sense of “Kings not meeting Kings.”

But in reality, the Federation’s internal attitude toward the Zerg wasn’t as peaceful as they projected. Within the Council, opinions were divided into two camps: the pro-Zerg faction and the anti-Zerg faction. The pro-Zerg faction advocated for peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The anti-Zerg faction, however, was full of ambition; they believed the Zerg would always be a threat to the Federation. These violent, bloodthirsty, yet powerful creatures were perceived as stumbling blocks to the Federation becoming the galaxy’s supreme power. If I don’t kill the Zerg, there’s no guarantee the Zerg won’t kill me.

For years, the anti-Zerg faction had held the upper hand in the Council. They were ambitious, secretly plotting and waiting for the right moment to wipe out the Zerg while they were without a Queen, forcing them off the galactic stage forever.

But plans rarely keep pace with reality. Their careful arrangements were shattered by Su Lili’s appearance. By the Gods of the Federation, no one knew where this newborn Queen had come from—but she was here. These previously headless Zerg had found their backbone overnight, becoming unprecedentedly united and orderly.

This transformation placed immense pressure on the Federation. Three hundred years ago, a Zerg race led by a Queen had swept across the galaxy with no equal. Wherever the Zerg iron tide went, planets were crushed like crackers. That powerful dominance still left people trembling today. The Zerg without a Queen invited petty schemes; the Zerg with a Queen inspired long-forgotten dread.

Heaven knows, when the Federation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs received the Zerg’s communication signal, the middle-aged man—usually so meticulous about his appearance—nearly wet his pants. He ran all the way to the Military Department with his terminal before he dared to open it. Thank goodness, it wasn’t a declaration of war.

The Federation held an emergency meeting that night to discuss the Zerg’s request for long-term Duo Duo Fruit trade. The pro-Zerg faction was, naturally, all for it. But the anti-Zerg faction, having plotted for a century, didn’t want to let go so easily. After a long stalemate and much arguing, they reached this compromise.

The pro-Zerg faction believed that inviting the Zerg Queen to the Federation’s home planet would allow the Zerg to see their sincerity through warm hospitality, paving the way for better cooperation. The anti-Zerg faction wanted to use the opportunity to observe what this legendary Queen was like, hoping to find a weakness.

Regardless of their motives, no Zerg dared to make a decision involving the Queen lightly. To the Zerg, the Queen was supreme; her will was their direction. Any existence that contradicted her wishes deserved to be eradicated.

Go ask Her Majesty.

Even if you are so incompetent and useless that you let the Queen fall into a crisis, and you have no right to see her again… now is a legitimate, high-sounding opportunity to meet her.

Go see Her Majesty. Confess your sins, repent. Even if she despises you to the extreme, this is the last and only chance to see her.

With such thoughts, Lucius knocked on the doors of the Queen’s chambers.

When Su Lili saw Lucius again, she almost didn’t recognize him. It had only been a day since she last saw him, yet the young man was indescribably haggard. His smooth, pale gold hair had lost its luster; his gentle emerald eyes were dim and out of focus. His holy priest robes, usually so pristine, were wrinkled. He looked like a flower on the verge of withering.

Before Su Lili could even greet him, the “flower” collapsed at her feet. The tall, slender young man crawled humbly on the floor. His dull gold hair mingled with the silver chain of his monocle, spilling down and hiding his expression. His thin white fingers curled into the floor; Lucius was shaking uncontrollably.

“My King… your servant has sinned.”

“It was due to my lack of scrutiny that a foreign spy was able to lurk by my side, take you away, and put you in grave danger.”

His back heaved as he let out a low, whimpering sob. “Please, My King, punish me.”

His spirit was clearly shattered, his grief reaching its peak. Even from a distance, without using her mental power to investigate, Su Lili could feel the abyss of despair and darkness radiating from him. If she didn’t say something soon, he would truly break.

She hopped down from her high dining chair and walked toward him. Today she wore a pair of vintage-style dark brown leather shoes. The hand-sewn soles were durable yet flexible, making a crisp sound on the floor.

Tap, tap.

In the cavernous hall, the Queen’s footsteps grew clearer as she approached. With every step, Lucius’s shoulder blades quivered like butterfly wings. He didn’t dare look up; he simply lay there in silence, waiting for judgment.

Tap.

The Queen stopped beside him. Above the classical leather shoes, the girl’s legs—framed by delicate lace socks—were curved and slender, easily gripped with one hand. Lucius’s heart drummed like a war beast.

Finally, a hand lifted his chin.

His pale gold hair slid away, revealing his handsome but disheveled face. He seemed to be holding his breath; his face was flushed red, and his eyelids were clamped shut. His light-colored lashes were soaked, trembling under her gaze. His perfectly shaped lips were pressed tight, occasionally letting out a sound that was almost a sob.

The High Priest, so noble and sacred in the hearts of the Zerg people, now looked pitiful and incredibly fragile. A single word from her could sentence him to death.

Su Lili’s breath hitched, her heart quickening. She reached out and pressed the corner of his eye, wiping away the tear tracks with her thumb, watching with satisfaction as a reddish tint bloomed on the edges of his eyes.

“Open your eyes.”

Her tone was unreadable. “Lucius, open your eyes and look at me.”

In her palm, the young man slowly opened his eyes. At first, his lake-like emerald eyes were clouded with mist, his gaze unfocused. Su Lili waited patiently until his wandering gaze regrouped and his beautiful eyes fixed on her face once more.

Then, she spoke slowly. “I forgive you, Lucius.”

His pupils dilated. He bit his lower lip and looked at her in disbelief. Su Lili gave him a small smile, locking eyes with him.

“Fula lurked within the Zerg for a long time and even became your closest guard. That is an issue on your part. But I believe you didn’t do it on purpose. You did your best to avoid it, but he found a loophole he had planned for a long time. This is not your fault.”

The King… is so gentle.

Lucius’s eyes burned. A wave of moisture filled his dull eyes, and another tear spilled over the red mark. Why is he such a crybaby? As a grand High Priest, he was acting like a child. Su Lili felt a bit speechless.

“Stop crying.” She touched the teardrop hanging from the corner of his eye.

This time, not just his eyes, but his entire face was engulfed in a deep crimson. Su Lili didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Instead of indulging in self-pity here, why don’t you think about how to better screen for spies in the future? I have a feeling that the forces behind Fula might be related to the passing of the previous Queen. Let’s follow this lead and investigate further.”

She withdrew her hand and gently gripped his shoulders to help him up. “I hope the same thing won’t happen again. Can you do that, Lucius?”

Upon hearing this, the young man—who had just been pulled up like a marionette—dropped back down heavily to one knee. His knee hit the hard floor with a loud thud. Lucius clenched his right fist over his heart, his eyes shining with absolute sincerity.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

System: Main Quest: Ascend the Throne (35/100)

Task Description: Congratulations! You have successfully found a clue regarding %&*#. Keen insight and firm execution are essential qualities for a King. Please continue to work hard to discover the truth.

As she suspected. A satisfied smile curved Su Lili’s lips. It seemed Fula was indeed related to %&*#. Perhaps, looking deeper, those Abnormal Beasts that mysteriously possessed Zerg mental power were also linked to Fula and the power behind him.

“There is one more matter for the King to decide,” Lucius said, his clear voice slightly raspy after his emotional outburst. “The Federation has invited you to visit their home planet as a guest. Do you wish to go, My King?”

He didn’t explicitly state that the Federation’s request was tied to the Duo Duo Fruit trade, nor did he mention that if she refused, the two cosmic powers might go to war. For Lucius, no other reason should influence the King’s decision. Whether she went to the Federation depended solely on whether she wanted to have some fun.

“The Federation?” Su Lili tapped her chin thoughtfully.

The Federation was mostly human. She felt that compared to the current Zerg, they might be more similar to the people of her previous life on Earth. She actually wanted to go see them. However, with the hidden %&*# watching from the shadows and her own constitution still relatively low, venturing into another nation’s territory felt risky. While the Federation hadn’t had major conflicts with the Zerg in the past, they hadn’t shown friendliness either; they mostly ignored each other. This sudden invitation was suspicious.

“How about this?” she suggested. “The Royal Guard selection tournament is in a few days. We can invite them to visit the Zerg home planet first.”